Heney e



(N0 Model.)

H. E. GAMBLE. V

THILL COUPLING. No. 295,160. Patented Mar. 18, 1884,

f f e g rricn.

Aren't HENRY E. GAMBLE, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO OSCAR H. MANN AND AUGUSTINE G. BUELL,

BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,160, dated March 18, 1884:.

Application filed September 29, 1888. (No model.) I

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY E. GAMBLE, of Evanston, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill and Pole Couplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a side elevation of acoupling in an operative position. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line a: m. Fig. 3 is a side elevation. of the parts as they appear in the act of connection and disconnection. Fig. 4. is an inside face view of the thill-iron.

My invention relates to a novel construction of the coupling, whereby provision is made for the quick and easy connection and disconnection of the parts without the necessity of unscrewing or removing bolts, pins,

or other fasteuinga'and especially to a construction whereby dust and dirt are effectually excluded from the wearing-surfaces.

The invention is designed more particularly as an improvement upon that represented in 2 5 Letters Patent of the United States, No. 288,992, granted to me on the 27th day of No veniber, 1883. It is designed to reduce the cost of construction, lessen the liability of wear, and avoid the necessity for the remov- 30 able bolt. 2

My improved coupling is composed of the clip-iron A and thill-iron B. The clip-iron is constructed to embrace the axle, as usual, and formed with a forwardly-extending arm,

5 a. This arm is formed with a vertical side face having near the rear end an undercut shoulder, c, and at the forward end a sur' face, 0, which is beveled or inclined backward toward the outside of the arm. On the .0 vertical face-there is formed a central stud, D, which projects horizontally. This stud,which serves as the pivot for the thillarm, and to receive, substantially, the entire strain of the draft, may bemade tubular, as represented in the drawings, or solid, as preferred.

Referring now to the thill-arm, it is constructed at the rear end with a vertical side face having an overhanging shoulder, e, and a beveled extremity, 6, these inclined or beveled surfaces corresponding with those of the clipiron. In its side face the thill-iron is provided with a central cavity or recess adapted to receive the journal D of the clipiron, this cavity being extended but partly through the iron, so that it remains closed on the outer side. In assembling the parts the clip-iron is turned to an. upright position, as represented in Fig. 3, and forced laterally to its place over the stud or trunnion'D, after which the thill-iron is turned downward, as represented in Fig. 1, the effect of which is to cause its inclined surfaces 6 and e to engage with the corresponding surfaces of the clip-iron in the manner represented in Fig. 2, whereby the separation of the parts in a lateral direction is prevented, although the thill-arm is permitted to swing upward and downward about the trunnion asa center.

For the purpose of maintaining a close contact between the weariugsurfaces to prevent noise, and also of effectually excluding the dust and dirt from said surfaces, I insert between the two irons a washer, f, of rubber or equivalent elastic material. This washer may be fitted around or within the stud D, or both. In the act of assembling the parts, the washer is subjected to considerable degree of compression, whereby it is caused to secure the results before stated. I

It is to be noted that the surfaces which receive the wear are inclosed both on the outer and on the inner sides, and that there is no joint or opening through which dust or dirt can gain access thereto. In this respect the device is a great improvement upon that described in my original patent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- In a thin-coupling, the clip-iron having the studl) and surfaces 0 c, and the thill-iron B, having the recess to ad mit the stud, closed at its outer side, and the surfaces e e, in combination with an intermediate washer, f of rubher or equivalent elastic material encircling the journal, as described, whereby the washer is caused to prevent noise, compensate for wear, and exclude dust from the wearing-sun faces.

HENRY E. GAMBLE.

Witnesses:

N. CowLEs, H. FRANKFURTER. 

